Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:08,258 --> 00:00:09,467
A few years ago,
2
00:00:09,468 --> 00:00:13,096
I visited my dad's home state of
Mississippi for the first time.
3
00:00:13,805 --> 00:00:16,974
Mississippi is at once
my ancestral land,
4
00:00:16,975 --> 00:00:19,810
and the sinister setting of
any number of Hollywood movies,
5
00:00:19,811 --> 00:00:22,522
a villain in our
national narrative.
6
00:00:22,523 --> 00:00:25,107
The place where a Black
boy named Emmett Till
7
00:00:25,108 --> 00:00:30,072
was tossed into the Tallahatchie River
with a cotton gin fan around his neck.
8
00:00:31,073 --> 00:00:32,949
And while I was there visiting,
9
00:00:32,950 --> 00:00:35,785
my family told me a
story of fear and terror
10
00:00:35,786 --> 00:00:39,414
that so many Black families
in the Deep South share.
11
00:00:39,957 --> 00:00:42,375
My great uncle Milton,
my dad's namesake,
12
00:00:42,376 --> 00:00:43,876
just a boy at the time,
13
00:00:43,877 --> 00:00:46,295
committed the sin of walking
through a white neighborhood
14
00:00:46,296 --> 00:00:48,131
that he wasn't working in.
15
00:00:49,216 --> 00:00:51,634
Two white teenagers
in a car gave chase,
16
00:00:51,635 --> 00:00:53,762
trying to run him down.
17
00:00:54,221 --> 00:00:57,432
To escape, he jumped into
the murky Tallahatchie.
18
00:00:58,267 --> 00:01:00,685
When he returned
home, muddy and wet,
19
00:01:00,686 --> 00:01:03,145
chest heaving from
panic and exertion,
20
00:01:03,146 --> 00:01:06,358
his mother was livid,
consumed by fear.
21
00:01:06,859 --> 00:01:10,279
"You're going to get
yourself killed," she said.
22
00:01:11,113 --> 00:01:14,031
That day, the Tallahatchie
had been his escape.
23
00:01:14,032 --> 00:01:17,118
But for so many Black people,
that same river had become
24
00:01:17,119 --> 00:01:21,331
the watery grave for those who
dared breach the social order.
25
00:01:21,874 --> 00:01:26,503
Fear defined the Mississippi Delta,
and all those who lived within it.
26
00:01:27,462 --> 00:01:30,298
But Black people's everyday
fear of white violence
27
00:01:30,299 --> 00:01:35,011
was itself the product of
another type of fear: white fear.
28
00:01:35,012 --> 00:01:37,263
White fear of Black progress,
29
00:01:37,264 --> 00:01:39,975
prosperity and freedom.
30
00:02:04,166 --> 00:02:07,169
This is
The 1619 Project.
31
00:02:18,013 --> 00:02:20,848
In 2017, a little
more than two years before
32
00:02:20,849 --> 00:02:23,768
Ahmaud Arbery was murdered
by white vigilantes,
33
00:02:23,769 --> 00:02:26,854
he was at a park sitting
in his car on his day off
34
00:02:26,855 --> 00:02:29,483
when Glynn County
police approached him.
35
00:02:30,275 --> 00:02:32,318
- What's your name?
- Ahmaud.
36
00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:33,611
- What is it?
- Ahmaud.
37
00:02:33,612 --> 00:02:35,030
Ahmaud?
38
00:02:35,572 --> 00:02:37,573
Whatchu doin' out
here, man?
39
00:02:37,574 --> 00:02:40,451
The officer ran
Ahmaud's ID through the system,
40
00:02:40,452 --> 00:02:43,287
questioned him, and
searched him for weapons.
41
00:02:43,288 --> 00:02:46,165
- You botherin' me for nothin'.
I work at Blue Beacon, bro.
42
00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:49,001
- Where's Blue Beacon?
- Blue Beacon is on Exit 29, man.
43
00:02:49,002 --> 00:02:51,170
- Okay. Listen, man. I'm not...
- Fuck you talkin' about?
44
00:02:51,171 --> 00:02:53,297
I'm not here
to ruin your day.
45
00:02:53,298 --> 00:02:55,466
I'm here to look for any
kind of criminal activity.
46
00:02:55,467 --> 00:02:56,801
That's all I'm doing.
- Criminal activity?
47
00:02:56,802 --> 00:02:59,095
I'm in a fuckin' park! I work!
48
00:02:59,096 --> 00:03:00,596
The fuck is you talkin' about?
49
00:03:00,597 --> 00:03:02,723
- I fuckin' work. Check my
damn history. - Okay.
50
00:03:02,724 --> 00:03:04,100
Okay.
51
00:03:04,101 --> 00:03:05,768
- Shit, call my job
right now. I go to work!
52
00:03:05,769 --> 00:03:07,228
I don't need
to call your job, man.
53
00:03:08,897 --> 00:03:10,857
A second officer
arrived on the scene
54
00:03:10,858 --> 00:03:12,275
and tried to tase Ahmaud.
55
00:03:13,819 --> 00:03:15,236
- Down!
56
00:03:15,237 --> 00:03:16,737
But it malfunctioned.
57
00:03:16,738 --> 00:03:18,573
- I'm tryna chill on my day
off, bro. - I gotchu.
58
00:03:18,574 --> 00:03:20,283
- I'm up early in the
morning trying to chill.
59
00:03:20,284 --> 00:03:23,744
I see, and I get that. I
want... I get wantin' to chill, too.
60
00:03:23,745 --> 00:03:25,288
But we get a lot of bad
stuff happens out here.
61
00:03:25,289 --> 00:03:27,123
We get gang and drug activity.
62
00:03:27,124 --> 00:03:30,126
We get all kinds of stuff out here.
- My name tied up in any of that?
63
00:03:30,127 --> 00:03:31,961
No, it is not.
64
00:03:31,962 --> 00:03:34,630
Eventually, with
no reason to detain him,
65
00:03:34,631 --> 00:03:36,382
they let him go.
66
00:03:36,383 --> 00:03:40,386
But the officer made clear why he
stopped Ahmaud in the first place.
67
00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:41,679
But when you get
up and start actin'...
68
00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,432
When you get up and start
gettin' all crazy on me,
69
00:03:44,433 --> 00:03:46,017
it gets me... it makes
me a little bit nervous,
70
00:03:46,018 --> 00:03:46,977
you know what I mean?
71
00:03:46,978 --> 00:03:47,978
I'm not here to mess...
72
00:03:47,979 --> 00:03:50,396
As I watched this
earlier video of Ahmaud,
73
00:03:50,397 --> 00:03:54,525
I wondered how many times he
encountered this exact same experience
74
00:03:54,526 --> 00:03:58,237
of being questioned by white
people who believed him suspicious,
75
00:03:58,238 --> 00:04:02,868
until, finally, in 2020,
it cost him his life.
76
00:04:03,911 --> 00:04:08,206
These interactions constitute a part
of daily life for Black Americans.
77
00:04:08,207 --> 00:04:12,084
Suspicion, mistrust, and
fear of Black people,
78
00:04:12,085 --> 00:04:16,964
and in particular, Black men, is
a phenomena as old as this nation.
79
00:04:16,965 --> 00:04:19,425
This guy
looks like he's up to no good,
80
00:04:19,426 --> 00:04:21,093
or he's on drugs or somethin'.
81
00:04:21,094 --> 00:04:24,889
It's raining, and he's just
walking around, looking about.
82
00:04:24,890 --> 00:04:27,266
Are you following
him? ZIMMERMAN: Yeah.
83
00:04:27,267 --> 00:04:29,185
Okay, we don't
need you to do that.
84
00:04:29,186 --> 00:04:30,895
- Get out the car!
- Get out now!
85
00:04:30,896 --> 00:04:32,772
- I have not
committed any crimes.
86
00:04:32,773 --> 00:04:34,565
- What are you, a specialist,
corporal? What are you?
87
00:04:34,566 --> 00:04:35,983
- I'm a lieutenant.
88
00:04:35,984 --> 00:04:38,319
And in so many
devastating cases,
89
00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,530
we've seen how it can be fatal.
90
00:04:40,531 --> 00:04:42,782
Michael Dunn
is charged with murder.
91
00:04:42,783 --> 00:04:44,659
Dunn admitted to
firing his weapon,
92
00:04:44,660 --> 00:04:46,202
but said he did
it in self-defense
93
00:04:46,203 --> 00:04:48,829
after he says he was
threatened by the teens.
94
00:04:48,830 --> 00:04:50,206
Officer
Shelby's attorney says
95
00:04:50,207 --> 00:04:52,083
she thought Crutcher was
reaching into his vehicle
96
00:04:52,084 --> 00:04:55,419
while refusing to comply with her
orders to "get on the ground."
97
00:04:55,420 --> 00:04:58,089
Officer Yanez took
the stand in his own defense
98
00:04:58,090 --> 00:05:00,633
saying, "I did not want
to shoot Mr. Castile.
99
00:05:00,634 --> 00:05:02,218
"It was not my intention.
100
00:05:02,219 --> 00:05:05,221
I was scared to death and
I thought I would die."
101
00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:08,766
He said Castile matched the
description of a robbery suspect,
102
00:05:08,767 --> 00:05:12,896
that he smelled marijuana, and
saw Castile reach for a gun.
103
00:05:15,023 --> 00:05:16,649
Today, we are
inundated with scenes
104
00:05:16,650 --> 00:05:20,112
of police and vigilante violence
against Black Americans.
105
00:05:20,362 --> 00:05:23,990
And we can trace this epidemic
of brutality to slavery,
106
00:05:23,991 --> 00:05:27,201
when white people desperately sought
to control those they enslaved
107
00:05:27,202 --> 00:05:31,248
out of fear they would rise up
and fight for their own freedom.
108
00:05:31,790 --> 00:05:35,418
It's a fear that has shaped
our nation's politics, culture,
109
00:05:35,419 --> 00:05:38,171
and systems of
justice ever since.
110
00:05:38,172 --> 00:05:42,675
From modern-day policing,
surveillance, and mass criminalization
111
00:05:42,676 --> 00:05:46,220
to white vigilante violence, and
"know your place" aggression.
112
00:05:46,221 --> 00:05:49,683
Teresa Klein accused a
nine-year-old boy of sexual assault.
113
00:05:50,184 --> 00:05:52,393
Reflecting a
deeply rooted fear,
114
00:05:52,394 --> 00:05:55,062
not merely of Black
crime or Black people...
115
00:05:55,063 --> 00:05:57,065
- I am not an animal!
116
00:05:57,608 --> 00:06:00,651
but of Black
liberation and equality.
117
00:06:00,652 --> 00:06:04,530
And that fear stretches all the
way back to the colonial era,
118
00:06:04,531 --> 00:06:06,950
before our nation's founding.
119
00:06:11,788 --> 00:06:13,998
So, Professor Alexander,
I want you to help us
120
00:06:13,999 --> 00:06:17,460
understand the
atmosphere of, of fear.
121
00:06:17,461 --> 00:06:22,757
- The colonists are incredibly
fearful of a variety of things, right?
122
00:06:22,758 --> 00:06:25,551
They are fearful of what
they consider to be,
123
00:06:25,552 --> 00:06:29,305
sort of, foreign enemies,
Native Americans,
124
00:06:29,306 --> 00:06:34,894
but their primary fear is centered
towards the enslaved African population
125
00:06:34,895 --> 00:06:38,272
because understandably
and justifiably,
126
00:06:38,273 --> 00:06:41,275
enslaved people do not
want to be enslaved.
127
00:06:41,276 --> 00:06:45,571
As much as white colonists
tried to pretend that slavery
128
00:06:45,572 --> 00:06:49,158
was a reasonable and
justifiable institution,
129
00:06:49,159 --> 00:06:52,453
they knew very clearly
that the system was wrong,
130
00:06:52,454 --> 00:06:53,955
that it was immoral.
131
00:06:53,956 --> 00:06:58,501
In their minds, they even understood
that it violated the Law of God.
132
00:06:58,502 --> 00:07:02,880
And they knew that some type of
reckoning was eventually going to come.
133
00:07:06,176 --> 00:07:09,804
In August of 1791,
that fear of a reckoning
134
00:07:09,805 --> 00:07:12,640
that so terrified white
Americans came true
135
00:07:12,641 --> 00:07:17,311
when a slave revolt on the island of
Saint-Domingue, now present-day Haiti,
136
00:07:17,312 --> 00:07:20,190
quickly grew to a
full-fledged revolution.
137
00:07:21,108 --> 00:07:24,151
The French had enslaved nearly
half a million Africans there,
138
00:07:24,152 --> 00:07:28,365
and within weeks, almost every
plantation on the island had burned.
139
00:07:29,491 --> 00:07:31,826
- Now, this creates,
as you might imagine,
140
00:07:31,827 --> 00:07:37,206
terror, not just in the Caribbean
and in the other French holdings,
141
00:07:37,207 --> 00:07:43,130
but across the entire Atlantic world
and certainly into the United States.
142
00:07:43,505 --> 00:07:47,592
George Washington is panicking.
Alexander Hamilton is panicking.
143
00:07:47,593 --> 00:07:48,968
Thomas Jefferson is panicking...
144
00:07:48,969 --> 00:07:51,596
- Why are they panicking, because they...
- about what this revolt might mean.
145
00:07:51,597 --> 00:07:53,514
- they believe in rising up,
146
00:07:53,515 --> 00:07:55,851
um, and revolting
against your oppressors.
147
00:07:56,852 --> 00:07:59,812
The Black people of Saint-Domingue
won their revolution,
148
00:07:59,813 --> 00:08:02,690
becoming the first enslaved
people in the history of the world
149
00:08:02,691 --> 00:08:07,653
to successfully overthrow their
enslavers and establish their own nation.
150
00:08:07,654 --> 00:08:11,699
In 1804, they founded Haiti as
the world's first Black republic,
151
00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:15,620
and became the first country in
the Americas to abolish slavery.
152
00:08:15,621 --> 00:08:20,166
The existence of a free Black society
so close to our slave-holding republic
153
00:08:20,167 --> 00:08:22,836
consumed many white
Americans with fear.
154
00:08:23,629 --> 00:08:25,338
As Thomas Jefferson wrote,
155
00:08:25,339 --> 00:08:27,048
"We have the wolf by the ear,
156
00:08:27,049 --> 00:08:30,384
"and we can neither hold
him, nor safely let him go.
157
00:08:30,385 --> 00:08:34,806
Justice is in one scale, and
self-preservation in the other."
158
00:08:35,390 --> 00:08:37,808
The Haitian Revolution
provides that inspiration
159
00:08:37,809 --> 00:08:40,686
that the white colonists feared.
- It absolutely does.
160
00:08:40,687 --> 00:08:46,275
The founding fathers are
imagining revolt and rebellion
161
00:08:46,276 --> 00:08:50,071
as this contagious,
cancerous disease
162
00:08:50,072 --> 00:08:53,699
that is not going to be contained
within the boundaries of Saint-Domingue,
163
00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:55,368
but is going to spread.
164
00:08:55,369 --> 00:09:00,289
So, in the United States, during and
following the Haitian Revolution,
165
00:09:00,290 --> 00:09:04,168
we see a wave, a crackdown
of laws taking place
166
00:09:04,169 --> 00:09:08,257
trying to repress the
enslaved population.
167
00:09:09,216 --> 00:09:12,218
In an effort to maintain
the social and economic order,
168
00:09:12,219 --> 00:09:14,929
and to stifle the
potential for revolt,
169
00:09:14,930 --> 00:09:17,390
white Americans enacted
harsh slave codes
170
00:09:17,391 --> 00:09:20,101
to police the behavior
of the Black population,
171
00:09:20,102 --> 00:09:22,311
enslaved and free alike.
172
00:09:22,312 --> 00:09:24,939
Codes that restricted the
movements of Black people,
173
00:09:24,940 --> 00:09:27,650
prohibited them from
owning weapons of any kind,
174
00:09:27,651 --> 00:09:31,529
and outlawed their right to assemble
and worship in various ways,
175
00:09:31,530 --> 00:09:34,782
the very freedoms at the
heart of our democracy.
176
00:09:34,783 --> 00:09:37,910
- One of the laws that
has struck and haunted me
177
00:09:37,911 --> 00:09:40,329
since the time I
first encountered it
178
00:09:40,330 --> 00:09:42,248
is a law that was
passed in Charleston
179
00:09:42,249 --> 00:09:46,043
essentially saying that
enslaved and free Black people
180
00:09:46,044 --> 00:09:51,591
are not allowed to participate
in any kind of expression of joy.
181
00:09:51,592 --> 00:09:56,095
So, every imaginable aspect
of enslaved people's lives
182
00:09:56,096 --> 00:10:00,933
is being surveilled,
policed, and controlled.
183
00:10:00,934 --> 00:10:04,562
- So, the white politicians
are passing all of these laws
184
00:10:04,563 --> 00:10:06,606
and all of these
restrictions on Black life,
185
00:10:06,607 --> 00:10:09,150
but they don't do any good if you
don't have anyone to enforce them.
186
00:10:09,151 --> 00:10:10,151
- Right.
187
00:10:10,152 --> 00:10:14,614
- So you also then see the establishment
of a new system of law enforcement
188
00:10:14,615 --> 00:10:17,159
that would come to be
known as the slave patrols.
189
00:10:17,618 --> 00:10:21,287
Slave patrols began as an informal
means of policing the enslaved,
190
00:10:21,288 --> 00:10:24,040
but as white fears of the
enslaved population grew,
191
00:10:24,041 --> 00:10:26,209
the patrols became
government-sponsored,
192
00:10:26,210 --> 00:10:29,337
and officials made white
participation mandatory.
193
00:10:29,338 --> 00:10:33,342
These patrols helped form the
foundation of modern policing.
194
00:10:33,842 --> 00:10:37,929
- If you were a white person,
a free citizen in the colonies,
195
00:10:37,930 --> 00:10:40,306
if you refuse to participate
in the slave patrol,
196
00:10:40,307 --> 00:10:42,266
you would have to pay heavy fines.
- Mm.
197
00:10:42,267 --> 00:10:45,770
- So, it's literally
an indication, right,
198
00:10:45,771 --> 00:10:48,606
of citizenship and of whiteness...
- Mm-hmm.
199
00:10:48,607 --> 00:10:50,399
- to participate in
the slave patrols.
200
00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:52,610
- So, what we're
seeing is really
201
00:10:52,611 --> 00:10:55,363
the imprinting of this
on the American psyche.
202
00:10:55,364 --> 00:10:59,242
That... any type of gathering of
Black people, they could be plotting.
203
00:10:59,243 --> 00:11:01,410
If they're going to church,
they're plotting in the church.
204
00:11:01,411 --> 00:11:02,495
If there's three people gathering...
- Yes.
205
00:11:02,496 --> 00:11:03,413
- they're plotting,
206
00:11:03,414 --> 00:11:08,209
so that we begin, collectively, to
think every time you see Black people
207
00:11:08,210 --> 00:11:10,254
doing something, you should be watching them.
- Yes.
208
00:11:11,296 --> 00:11:13,798
New video from
the NYPD shows that woman
209
00:11:13,799 --> 00:11:16,133
tackling that 14-year-old boy
210
00:11:16,134 --> 00:11:19,053
she falsely accused of
stealing her cell phone.
211
00:11:19,054 --> 00:11:21,347
She callin' police
on a 8-year-old little girl.
212
00:11:21,348 --> 00:11:24,600
You can hide all you want. The
whole world gon' see you, boo.
213
00:11:24,601 --> 00:11:27,687
- Yeah, and, um, illegally
selling water without a permit.
214
00:11:27,688 --> 00:11:28,771
On my property.
215
00:11:28,772 --> 00:11:30,273
- It's not your property.
216
00:11:30,274 --> 00:11:31,816
Please call the cops.
217
00:11:31,817 --> 00:11:33,609
- I'm gonna tell them there's
an African-American man
218
00:11:33,610 --> 00:11:34,486
threatening my life.
219
00:11:34,487 --> 00:11:36,287
Please tell
them whatever you like.
220
00:11:36,655 --> 00:11:39,866
The slave patrols deputized
white people and conditioned them
221
00:11:39,867 --> 00:11:43,160
to see all Black people and
their behavior as suspicious.
222
00:11:43,161 --> 00:11:45,663
And today, we see
example after example
223
00:11:45,664 --> 00:11:49,250
of how American society has
internalized this distrust.
224
00:11:49,251 --> 00:11:53,004
. I'm being
threatened by a man in The Ramble.
225
00:11:53,005 --> 00:11:55,298
Please send the
cops immediately.
226
00:11:55,299 --> 00:11:57,216
People of all
races and backgrounds
227
00:11:57,217 --> 00:11:59,302
have been conditioned
to fear Black people.
228
00:11:59,303 --> 00:12:01,596
There's a suspicious
person in the yard,
229
00:12:01,597 --> 00:12:03,472
and if you're not gon'
to identify yourself...
230
00:12:03,473 --> 00:12:05,183
- I don't have to
identify myself.
231
00:12:05,184 --> 00:12:07,101
I live right over there
across the street.
232
00:12:07,102 --> 00:12:08,853
But it is
mostly white Americans
233
00:12:08,854 --> 00:12:13,232
who take it upon themselves, again
and again, to police Black lives.
234
00:12:13,233 --> 00:12:15,276
- Get out my face. Get out my face.
- I'm not in your face!
235
00:12:15,277 --> 00:12:17,904
- Get outta my neighborhood, fuckwad!
- Who got a gun? Who got a gun?
236
00:12:17,905 --> 00:12:20,865
Who got the gun?
- The guy who's got a permit to carry.
237
00:12:20,866 --> 00:12:23,201
- You got a gun?
- You're the one that would get a gun!
238
00:12:23,202 --> 00:12:23,952
All right.
239
00:12:23,953 --> 00:12:26,078
It's
a legacy of the colonial era,
240
00:12:26,079 --> 00:12:30,875
but it's one that extends long
beyond the American revolution,
241
00:12:30,876 --> 00:12:34,378
that every white person should
be participating in the policing
242
00:12:34,379 --> 00:12:40,092
and surveilling of en... The
enslaved and free Black population.
243
00:12:40,093 --> 00:12:43,721
Being a good member
of the white community
244
00:12:43,722 --> 00:12:46,766
is to be constantly
on the lookout
245
00:12:46,767 --> 00:12:50,770
for any type of suspicious
behavior among Black people.
246
00:12:50,771 --> 00:12:55,858
And it has become a type of
historical memory, right,
247
00:12:55,859 --> 00:12:58,778
that consciously
and unconsciously,
248
00:12:58,779 --> 00:13:01,447
gets passed down from
generation to generation.
249
00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:08,538
- Father and son are now
facing murder charges
250
00:13:08,539 --> 00:13:12,291
after the death of a man
who was running in Georgia.
251
00:13:12,292 --> 00:13:15,295
We all know how
Ahmaud Arbery's story ends.
252
00:13:15,879 --> 00:13:18,923
In 2020, he went on a run through
the mostly white neighborhood
253
00:13:18,924 --> 00:13:23,261
of Satilla Shores, just two miles
from his house in Brunswick, Georgia.
254
00:13:23,262 --> 00:13:26,681
A resident saw him and began
to chase him in his truck.
255
00:13:26,682 --> 00:13:27,890
According
to a police report,
256
00:13:27,891 --> 00:13:31,477
the father, Gregory McMichael, said
there had been several break-ins
257
00:13:31,478 --> 00:13:32,478
in the neighborhood,
258
00:13:32,479 --> 00:13:37,109
and a man he viewed as "the suspect"
was running down the street.
259
00:13:37,568 --> 00:13:39,777
A jury found Travis
and Gregory McMichael
260
00:13:39,778 --> 00:13:41,696
guilty of his murder,
261
00:13:41,697 --> 00:13:44,700
but that accountability is
the exception, not the rule,
262
00:13:45,158 --> 00:13:48,787
particularly when Black people
die at the hands of police.
263
00:13:59,381 --> 00:14:01,799
Black
people love harder
264
00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:05,970
on the strength that
we're so devalued,
265
00:14:05,971 --> 00:14:07,763
it's almost like we love harder
266
00:14:07,764 --> 00:14:11,393
because it's a lot harder
for us to be loved.
267
00:14:13,145 --> 00:14:16,105
Every time I leave the house, I
tell my wife and my kids I love 'em.
268
00:14:16,106 --> 00:14:20,193
They tell me they love me
because what we do understand is
269
00:14:20,194 --> 00:14:23,405
we could walk out this door
and never see each other again.
270
00:14:24,072 --> 00:14:27,825
As a Black father, you don't
ever wanna get that call.
271
00:14:27,826 --> 00:14:31,579
I let my kid walk down the
street, I let my kid go over here,
272
00:14:31,580 --> 00:14:36,250
and, you know, for whatever reason,
the police came through and killed him.
273
00:14:36,251 --> 00:14:40,254
I think about that
every single day.
274
00:14:40,255 --> 00:14:42,173
Because, just looking
at all the video,
275
00:14:42,174 --> 00:14:45,426
the police don't shoot once,
they don't shoot twice.
276
00:14:45,427 --> 00:14:49,514
Police officers shot
an unarmed Black man 20 times.
277
00:14:49,515 --> 00:14:52,558
- Sixteen times.- At least 60 times.
278
00:14:52,559 --> 00:14:54,435
They unload
entire clips,
279
00:14:54,436 --> 00:14:56,563
and then they look
and see what they did.
280
00:14:57,856 --> 00:14:59,065
And that's the fear.
281
00:14:59,066 --> 00:15:00,650
It's not just the
fear of gettin' shot,
282
00:15:00,651 --> 00:15:03,278
it's the fear of getting
your body obliterated.
283
00:15:04,696 --> 00:15:09,701
Every day is like playing chess
when you walk out the house.
284
00:15:27,678 --> 00:15:29,679
We are continuing
to push for answers
285
00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,557
about the security guard shot
and killed by a police officer
286
00:15:32,558 --> 00:15:33,933
in South Suburban Robbins.
287
00:15:33,934 --> 00:15:36,686
A 26-year-old
father was working security
288
00:15:36,687 --> 00:15:38,104
at Manny's Luxury Lounge.
289
00:15:38,105 --> 00:15:39,188
People in the crowd
290
00:15:39,189 --> 00:15:42,608
yelled to arriving police
that Roberson was a guard.
291
00:15:42,609 --> 00:15:45,903
Still, one responding
officer shot him,
292
00:15:45,904 --> 00:15:48,447
who later died at the hospital.
293
00:15:48,448 --> 00:15:49,866
- You shot him and he with us!
294
00:15:49,867 --> 00:15:52,827
- You a racist muthafucka. Take your ass...
- Him right here!
295
00:15:52,828 --> 00:15:55,037
I told him. He with us!
296
00:15:55,038 --> 00:15:57,164
On November 11, 2018,
297
00:15:57,165 --> 00:16:00,126
Jemel Roberson's life
was tragically cut short
298
00:16:00,127 --> 00:16:03,546
when a police officer made
a split-second decision.
299
00:16:08,552 --> 00:16:12,138
That fatal night began when a
fight between patrons broke out,
300
00:16:12,139 --> 00:16:14,558
and gunfire erupted in the club.
301
00:16:15,267 --> 00:16:17,101
911,
what's your emergency?
302
00:16:17,102 --> 00:16:19,437
We need the police
to the Manny's Blue Room.
303
00:16:19,438 --> 00:16:20,688
There's been shots fired.
304
00:16:20,689 --> 00:16:21,939
- Okay.- Inside the club.
305
00:16:21,940 --> 00:16:22,816
Okay.
306
00:16:22,817 --> 00:16:24,901
911,
what's your emergency?
307
00:16:24,902 --> 00:16:27,570
Hello, I've been shot!
Please! DISPATCHER 2: Where are you at?
308
00:16:27,571 --> 00:16:30,281
Where are you at? PERSON 2:
I'm at Manny's Blue Room!
309
00:16:30,282 --> 00:16:32,909
- I didn't know what was goin' on.
I just seen the op... altercation.
310
00:16:32,910 --> 00:16:34,119
I just heard it.
311
00:16:34,661 --> 00:16:37,455
You have Jemel and, like,
three other security guards
312
00:16:37,456 --> 00:16:39,332
who had to grab three people.
313
00:16:39,333 --> 00:16:41,334
It was so many people they
was tryin' to put out.
314
00:16:44,129 --> 00:16:45,630
- Another guy reaches over me.
315
00:16:45,631 --> 00:16:48,925
I didn't see his face, I didn't
see his hair, none of that.
316
00:16:48,926 --> 00:16:50,593
And he starts shooting.
317
00:16:52,179 --> 00:16:53,221
- He just shot into the club.
318
00:16:53,222 --> 00:16:55,515
He didn't give a fuck
who he was shootin' at.
319
00:16:55,516 --> 00:16:59,144
He didn't give a damn 'bout nobody
life at that time or nothing.
320
00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:01,771
I tried to wrestle
a gun from him.
321
00:17:01,772 --> 00:17:04,942
Well, that's how I end up gettin'
shot in my thumb and my forearm.
322
00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:08,945
In the midst of the chaos,
Jemel bravely borrowed a firearm
323
00:17:08,946 --> 00:17:10,571
from a fellow security guard,
324
00:17:10,572 --> 00:17:13,200
and apprehended a suspect
in the parking lot.
325
00:17:14,701 --> 00:17:17,703
The other security
guards began to clear the scene,
326
00:17:17,704 --> 00:17:20,414
officers who were present at
the scene began to respond.
327
00:17:20,415 --> 00:17:22,834
These are officers
from Robbins, Illinois.
328
00:17:22,835 --> 00:17:25,796
And then other officers were
being called to the scene.
329
00:17:27,172 --> 00:17:30,258
Ian Covey, a white
officer from a nearby town,
330
00:17:30,259 --> 00:17:32,469
was among those who responded.
331
00:17:33,178 --> 00:17:36,222
All accounts say that
by the time that Ian Covey,
332
00:17:36,223 --> 00:17:39,184
who was with the Midlothian
Police Department, arrived,
333
00:17:39,935 --> 00:17:43,939
the scene, in and of itself,
was beginning to calm down.
334
00:17:45,107 --> 00:17:47,441
- As I'm at the bar with my
hand wrapped up and everything,
335
00:17:47,442 --> 00:17:52,238
a police officer, I don't know what, uh,
station or city he was from at the time,
336
00:17:52,239 --> 00:17:56,784
he came in and got on top of
the bar with a-an assault rifle.
337
00:17:56,785 --> 00:17:58,619
And I'm guessin' it was a AR-15.
338
00:17:58,620 --> 00:18:01,581
I don't know what it was, but it
was an assault rifle, definitely.
339
00:18:01,582 --> 00:18:04,083
- Covey's not interacting with
the other officers who are there.
340
00:18:04,084 --> 00:18:06,043
This is his opportunity
to learn that
341
00:18:06,044 --> 00:18:08,421
those law enforcement
officers who are present
342
00:18:08,422 --> 00:18:11,340
are coordinating with the security
guards to secure the scene.
343
00:18:11,341 --> 00:18:14,468
Instead, he sort of takes
matters into his own hands.
344
00:18:14,469 --> 00:18:16,137
He's looking around
for a shooter,
345
00:18:16,138 --> 00:18:19,390
or for somebody to direct
his energy towards.
346
00:18:19,391 --> 00:18:23,144
- We like, "All the trouble's
outside. You in the wrong area."
347
00:18:23,145 --> 00:18:25,855
So, at the time, he goes
out to the side door,
348
00:18:25,856 --> 00:18:27,398
and that's where he sees Jemel.
349
00:18:27,399 --> 00:18:31,027
So, when I went out there, he sees
Jemel, he has his gun pointed at Jemel.
350
00:18:31,028 --> 00:18:34,322
Jemel has someone on the
ground with a gun to his back,
351
00:18:34,323 --> 00:18:37,450
just holdin' him 'til
he has his security team
352
00:18:37,451 --> 00:18:40,536
or the actual police come
and help him, assist him.
353
00:18:40,537 --> 00:18:43,372
- And Officer Ian Covey
approaches him from behind.
354
00:18:43,373 --> 00:18:46,250
From the descriptions that
I've been able to gather,
355
00:18:46,251 --> 00:18:51,422
he's about, maybe, 10 feet away from
Jemel when he shouts, "Drop the weapon."
356
00:18:51,423 --> 00:18:53,174
- And I hear everybody, "He's
security, he's security."
357
00:18:53,175 --> 00:18:54,592
I'm standin' up right there.
358
00:18:54,593 --> 00:18:55,927
I'm yellin' the same
thing. "He's security."
359
00:18:55,928 --> 00:18:58,054
He has his AR-15 pointed at him,
360
00:18:58,055 --> 00:19:00,515
"Freeze, drop the
gun, drop the gun."
361
00:19:00,516 --> 00:19:02,683
We're yellin', "He's
security, he's security."
362
00:19:02,684 --> 00:19:06,020
- But Officer Ian Covey opens fire
on Jemel Roberson strikin' him
363
00:19:06,021 --> 00:19:07,813
in his back several times.
364
00:19:07,814 --> 00:19:11,943
- I don't think he gave Jemel
enough time to respond to him
365
00:19:11,944 --> 00:19:15,696
far as givin' up, releasing
the gun and everything.
366
00:19:15,697 --> 00:19:17,699
Hell, it wasn't even 10 seconds.
367
00:19:18,367 --> 00:19:22,371
Didn't even feel like it was 10
seconds. It just happened so fast.
368
00:19:23,997 --> 00:19:28,292
He, he died right in front of me.
He, he got shot right in front of me.
369
00:19:28,293 --> 00:19:30,295
We all was in shock.
370
00:19:30,587 --> 00:19:32,588
Why do you got
your rifle out right now?!
371
00:19:32,589 --> 00:19:35,508
What threat do you see?
Everything was clear.
372
00:19:35,509 --> 00:19:37,426
Everything was down, bro.
373
00:19:37,427 --> 00:19:40,721
He tell him to drop his gun. I'm
tellin' him he workin' with us.
374
00:19:40,722 --> 00:19:43,224
"Cool out. He's
workin' with us."
375
00:19:43,225 --> 00:19:48,856
He shot him, four or five times
after we told him he's with us.
376
00:19:50,107 --> 00:19:52,900
- I think he shot Jemel because
he thought Jemel was a threat.
377
00:19:52,901 --> 00:19:54,569
How big he was.
378
00:19:54,570 --> 00:19:56,863
And then he like, "Oh,
he got on black clothes,
379
00:19:56,864 --> 00:19:58,866
so he might be a threat."
380
00:19:59,324 --> 00:20:02,743
The victim, with a big
smile and an even bigger heart.
381
00:20:02,744 --> 00:20:07,749
This is a case that is starting to
gain international media attention.
382
00:20:08,500 --> 00:20:10,126
As is so
often the case,
383
00:20:10,127 --> 00:20:12,378
the instant assessment
of Jemel as a threat
384
00:20:12,379 --> 00:20:15,007
had nothing to do with
who he actually was.
385
00:20:15,465 --> 00:20:17,508
- Mom?
- What?
386
00:20:17,509 --> 00:20:19,261
I love you.
387
00:20:19,595 --> 00:20:21,220
Be careful.
388
00:20:21,221 --> 00:20:24,932
For people who won't
be blessed to, to meet Jemel,
389
00:20:24,933 --> 00:20:27,268
just what, what
kinda person was he?
390
00:20:27,269 --> 00:20:32,565
- He was a protector, he was
funny, he was charming, lovable.
391
00:20:32,566 --> 00:20:35,193
And he also was a
musician, is that right?
392
00:20:35,194 --> 00:20:36,944
Yeah. He used to go to church
every... NIKOLE: Tell me about that.
393
00:20:36,945 --> 00:20:39,572
So, he was faithful?
- Faithful, faithful.
394
00:20:39,573 --> 00:20:42,700
Like, every Sunday, I'm like,
"Ooh gosh. He's real good."
395
00:20:42,701 --> 00:20:45,536
'Cause, like, he had the little
voice. Like, 'cause he had...
396
00:20:45,537 --> 00:20:46,996
- Oh, he could sing, too?
- A little bit.
397
00:20:46,997 --> 00:20:48,623
A little bit.
398
00:20:48,624 --> 00:20:49,665
He was a
better organ player
399
00:20:49,666 --> 00:20:51,426
- than singer, huh? Okay.- Right, yeah.
400
00:20:51,919 --> 00:20:56,464
♪ Well, I'm
singin' happy birthday ♪
401
00:20:56,465 --> 00:21:00,134
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
402
00:21:00,135 --> 00:21:04,138
♪ I'm singing happy
birthday, happy birthday ♪
403
00:21:04,139 --> 00:21:06,766
Every birthday,
he always sing it to me.
404
00:21:06,767 --> 00:21:09,519
It was like a, a church
hymn or somethin' like that.
405
00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:12,563
That was like... That's my
favorite video to watch of him.
406
00:21:12,564 --> 00:21:15,317
Me and Jemel been knowing each
other since, like, Pampers.
407
00:21:16,527 --> 00:21:18,194
Garret, no!
408
00:21:18,195 --> 00:21:20,988
Garret, no. Garret, it's playoffs, bro.
- I'm grown. I'm in college, I'm grown.
409
00:21:20,989 --> 00:21:23,157
My brother, my best friend.
410
00:21:23,158 --> 00:21:27,870
Like, everything he did was always
lookin' out for the next person.
411
00:21:27,871 --> 00:21:31,165
Really didn't have to worry about
anything with Jemel in the neighborhood
412
00:21:31,166 --> 00:21:33,794
'cause he was just
so protective.
413
00:21:35,754 --> 00:21:37,171
Jemel was
so protective,
414
00:21:37,172 --> 00:21:39,632
that when Avontea's
son Tristan was a baby,
415
00:21:39,633 --> 00:21:41,676
he cared for him as his own,
416
00:21:41,677 --> 00:21:44,428
and just 10 days before
Jemel was killed,
417
00:21:44,429 --> 00:21:47,431
he and Avontea discovered
they were pregnant.
418
00:21:47,432 --> 00:21:48,933
- He was excited...
- Was he?
419
00:21:48,934 --> 00:21:51,227
- Yes. He like, "Oh,
I hope it's a girl."
420
00:21:51,228 --> 00:21:54,355
'Cause I'm like... 'Cause he
already... He had Tristan.
421
00:21:54,356 --> 00:21:57,775
- So, Jemel was 26 years
old. What were his dreams?
422
00:21:57,776 --> 00:21:58,985
What, what did he want?
423
00:21:58,986 --> 00:22:00,695
- He wanted to be
a police officer.
424
00:22:00,696 --> 00:22:02,947
- Why did he wanna be a
police officer? What was it?
425
00:22:02,948 --> 00:22:04,615
- He wanted to take the
bad guys off the street.
426
00:22:04,616 --> 00:22:06,409
He wanted to make the
streets a better place,
427
00:22:06,410 --> 00:22:09,037
wanna make sure the streets
all good for my son.
428
00:22:09,371 --> 00:22:11,372
But instead of
becoming a police officer,
429
00:22:11,373 --> 00:22:13,165
Jemel was killed by one.
430
00:22:13,166 --> 00:22:15,459
And as it is with
so many other cases,
431
00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:19,673
the officer who shot him was not
held accountable for taking his life.
432
00:22:20,549 --> 00:22:24,969
- Officer Ian Covey's defense was
similar to the kind of res... defense
433
00:22:24,970 --> 00:22:28,931
that we hear in almost every
single officer-involved shooting.
434
00:22:28,932 --> 00:22:30,933
He has to identify
a deadly threat.
435
00:22:30,934 --> 00:22:35,146
In this case, he says that, obviously,
Jemel Roberson was holding a gun,
436
00:22:35,147 --> 00:22:39,692
and that firearm was a potential
deadly threat to him and to others.
437
00:22:39,693 --> 00:22:42,321
This is how they
avoid accountability.
438
00:22:43,071 --> 00:22:47,117
- Officer Wilson, in his own words,
saying he feared for his life.
439
00:22:47,993 --> 00:22:52,997
- The reason my client, Jason,
fired his weapon that, that evening
440
00:22:52,998 --> 00:22:55,041
back in October 2014
441
00:22:55,042 --> 00:22:58,169
is that, um, he truly
was in fear for his life.
442
00:23:00,088 --> 00:23:01,797
Those
simple admissions:
443
00:23:01,798 --> 00:23:05,468
"I feared for my life,"
or, "I felt threatened,"
444
00:23:05,469 --> 00:23:08,429
have given Americans,
particularly law enforcement,
445
00:23:08,430 --> 00:23:10,265
license to kill.
446
00:23:10,807 --> 00:23:13,809
For police, it's a license
that is protected by law
447
00:23:13,810 --> 00:23:15,978
under what's known as
"qualified immunity,"
448
00:23:15,979 --> 00:23:18,898
a legal rule that shields
them from lawsuits that allege
449
00:23:18,899 --> 00:23:21,318
they violated a
citizen's rights.
450
00:23:22,110 --> 00:23:25,655
The 12-year-old tried
to show the cops his gun was fake,
451
00:23:25,656 --> 00:23:27,907
but the two officers
didn't know that,
452
00:23:27,908 --> 00:23:29,617
and feared for their lives.
453
00:23:29,618 --> 00:23:31,828
There will be no indictment.
454
00:23:32,829 --> 00:23:35,915
Both the tactics and the
culture of modern-day policing
455
00:23:35,916 --> 00:23:40,253
have been significantly influenced
by the legacy of slave patrols.
456
00:23:40,254 --> 00:23:42,463
Patrollers routinely
broke into cabins
457
00:23:42,464 --> 00:23:45,258
searching for contraband,
hunted for fugitives,
458
00:23:45,259 --> 00:23:48,553
and stopped and searched any Black
person they deemed suspicious,
459
00:23:48,554 --> 00:23:51,055
often physically abusing them.
460
00:23:51,056 --> 00:23:54,976
Modern policing employs similar
tactics including no-knock raids,
461
00:23:54,977 --> 00:23:57,562
the seizure of assets, and
stop-and-frisk policies
462
00:23:57,563 --> 00:24:00,774
that were most famously used
by the New York City police.
463
00:24:07,614 --> 00:24:10,950
So, Professor Alexander, we're
standing here in New York City.
464
00:24:10,951 --> 00:24:14,036
This was the place where
a federal judge ruled
465
00:24:14,037 --> 00:24:17,290
that Black people were being
unconstitutionally stopped
466
00:24:17,291 --> 00:24:19,041
in what's called stop-and-frisk.
- Yeah.
467
00:24:19,042 --> 00:24:22,587
- And so, it seems like from
the time of slavery until now,
468
00:24:22,588 --> 00:24:26,674
the role of policing in Black communities
has not been necessarily about serving.
469
00:24:26,675 --> 00:24:30,553
- When it comes to Black communities,
historically and contemporarily,
470
00:24:30,554 --> 00:24:34,558
the role of the police has really
been about surveillance and control.
471
00:24:36,059 --> 00:24:38,060
The Civil
War ended slavery,
472
00:24:38,061 --> 00:24:40,855
but it didn't reduce white
fear of Black liberation,
473
00:24:40,856 --> 00:24:44,401
or end the perpetual
quest for racial control.
474
00:24:44,651 --> 00:24:45,985
With slavery's demise,
475
00:24:45,986 --> 00:24:48,321
white people across
classes and backgrounds
476
00:24:48,322 --> 00:24:51,657
feared economic ruin, a
disordered social system,
477
00:24:51,658 --> 00:24:55,329
and most importantly, a loss
of white political power.
478
00:24:56,538 --> 00:25:00,041
After
the Civil War, as slavery,
479
00:25:00,042 --> 00:25:04,212
as a social institution,
starts to fade away,
480
00:25:04,213 --> 00:25:08,633
there's a desire across much of the
South, as well as throughout the North,
481
00:25:08,634 --> 00:25:13,096
to make sure that Black people remain
at the bottom of the social order.
482
00:25:13,597 --> 00:25:16,682
So, what you see is the
rise of the Ku Klux Klan
483
00:25:16,683 --> 00:25:19,477
and other types of white
supremacist organizations
484
00:25:19,478 --> 00:25:23,064
that take up the
extra-legal approaches
485
00:25:23,065 --> 00:25:27,568
of keeping the Black community
in its place while the police
486
00:25:27,569 --> 00:25:30,488
become a legalized,
formalized way
487
00:25:30,489 --> 00:25:33,366
of monitoring and
surveilling and maintaining
488
00:25:33,367 --> 00:25:35,827
control over the
Black population.
489
00:25:36,703 --> 00:25:39,539
For the next century, in
the period of racial apartheid
490
00:25:39,540 --> 00:25:41,082
known as Jim Crow,
491
00:25:41,083 --> 00:25:45,087
law enforcement acted as the brazen
legal arm of white supremacy.
492
00:25:45,546 --> 00:25:49,632
The white South maintained its social,
economic and political dominance
493
00:25:49,633 --> 00:25:51,509
through wanton acts of violence,
494
00:25:51,510 --> 00:25:56,098
either by, or abetted by, local
and state law enforcement.
495
00:25:56,723 --> 00:26:00,476
To many white Americans, the success
of the civil rights movement,
496
00:26:00,477 --> 00:26:04,230
which ended explicit legal
discrimination against Black Americans,
497
00:26:04,231 --> 00:26:07,568
signaled a turn into
a post-racial society.
498
00:26:07,901 --> 00:26:10,903
But for Black Americans,
what became clear is that
499
00:26:10,904 --> 00:26:14,991
racist structures that ordered our
society for its first 350 years
500
00:26:14,992 --> 00:26:18,620
would not disappear simply
because the laws changed.
501
00:26:18,954 --> 00:26:23,584
They adapted to new forms,
and racism became more covert.
502
00:26:24,042 --> 00:26:29,005
A 2006 FBI assessment warned of
the threat of white nationalists
503
00:26:29,006 --> 00:26:30,756
infiltrating law enforcement,
504
00:26:30,757 --> 00:26:33,926
and a 2022 Reuters
investigation revealed
505
00:26:33,927 --> 00:26:37,555
that the presence of white supremacists
and white supremacist thinking
506
00:26:37,556 --> 00:26:41,058
in U.S. law enforcement
is still pervasive.
507
00:26:41,059 --> 00:26:43,686
An internal probe by
the Wilmington Police Department
508
00:26:43,687 --> 00:26:47,941
reveals hate-filled conversations
with three veteran officers.
509
00:26:48,108 --> 00:26:51,903
- So, in many ways, Black people,
and particularly poor Black people,
510
00:26:51,904 --> 00:26:54,864
are still seen as an internal
enemy in the United States.
511
00:26:54,865 --> 00:26:56,407
- I think very much so.
512
00:26:56,408 --> 00:26:59,702
Once slavery was over,
American society has not been
513
00:26:59,703 --> 00:27:03,497
entirely sure what to do
with the Black population.
514
00:27:03,498 --> 00:27:07,418
But we find ourselves, now, in
contemporary society, in which,
515
00:27:07,419 --> 00:27:10,129
when Black people try
to assert their rights
516
00:27:10,130 --> 00:27:12,758
in response to police conduct,
517
00:27:13,091 --> 00:27:17,304
the police respond with more
and more aggressive violence.
518
00:27:23,143 --> 00:27:24,560
When Frederick
Douglass said,
519
00:27:24,561 --> 00:27:27,438
"If there is no struggle,
there is no progress,"
520
00:27:27,439 --> 00:27:29,148
he understood fully
that Black demands
521
00:27:29,149 --> 00:27:30,608
for equality and justice
522
00:27:30,609 --> 00:27:33,819
to simply achieve the
rights of any other American
523
00:27:33,820 --> 00:27:36,739
would be met with
staunch resistance.
524
00:27:36,740 --> 00:27:39,534
He knew that the architecture
of white supremacy
525
00:27:39,535 --> 00:27:42,161
would not come down
without a fight.
526
00:27:42,162 --> 00:27:46,499
And so, non-violent, passive resistance,
as a means of protest, was rewarded
527
00:27:46,500 --> 00:27:49,545
with the violent murders
of movement leaders.
528
00:27:50,254 --> 00:27:52,755
Black power militancy was
met with government efforts
529
00:27:52,756 --> 00:27:55,424
to destroy and discredit
the organizations,
530
00:27:55,425 --> 00:27:59,054
and an increasingly
militarized response by police.
531
00:27:59,721 --> 00:28:01,556
And yet, despite the high cost
532
00:28:01,557 --> 00:28:04,559
that the fear of Black equality
has wrought on Black people,
533
00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:07,270
our rebellions, our
insistence on liberty,
534
00:28:07,271 --> 00:28:08,939
have never ceased.
535
00:28:09,273 --> 00:28:11,899
And it is no accident,
that nearly always,
536
00:28:11,900 --> 00:28:16,029
these rebellions are in response
to an act of police violence.
537
00:28:16,655 --> 00:28:19,657
Because police interact in
Black communities every day,
538
00:28:19,658 --> 00:28:22,869
they are often seen as the face
of larger systems of inequality
539
00:28:22,870 --> 00:28:27,875
in the justice system, employment,
education, and housing.
540
00:28:28,500 --> 00:28:31,252
- The people have a right,
they're totally justified
541
00:28:31,253 --> 00:28:34,463
in going out into the
streets, takin' up arms,
542
00:28:34,464 --> 00:28:36,466
and dealin' with that situation.
543
00:28:37,426 --> 00:28:39,427
And so, this is the reason
I feel the people are doin' this.
544
00:28:39,428 --> 00:28:44,558
They're trying to show that they are
angry against the police brutality.
545
00:28:54,234 --> 00:28:57,570
The United States sees this
wave of rebellions in Black communities
546
00:28:57,571 --> 00:29:00,990
leading up to the assassination
of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968.
547
00:29:00,991 --> 00:29:05,036
And then we see more than a hundred
rebellions in cities, big and small.
548
00:29:05,037 --> 00:29:08,831
What do these rebellions
signal about the limits of
549
00:29:08,832 --> 00:29:11,918
and the frustration
with nonviolent protest,
550
00:29:11,919 --> 00:29:13,461
um, for racial equality?
551
00:29:13,462 --> 00:29:18,508
- The thinking is we have tried
for decades, if not centuries,
552
00:29:18,509 --> 00:29:21,302
through non-violent means,
through direct action protests,
553
00:29:21,303 --> 00:29:24,013
through petitions,
through boycotts
554
00:29:24,014 --> 00:29:27,558
to try to... achieve
freedom and liberation,
555
00:29:27,559 --> 00:29:28,768
and that hasn't worked.
556
00:29:28,769 --> 00:29:34,315
So, for the generation that had watched
the civil rights movement unfold,
557
00:29:34,316 --> 00:29:39,028
and were now in 1968 living in
very much the same conditions,
558
00:29:39,029 --> 00:29:41,822
their tactics shifted,
and logically so,
559
00:29:41,823 --> 00:29:44,242
to say, "Well, if
you're gonna beat me up,
560
00:29:44,243 --> 00:29:48,913
"and I'm not getting any kind of
recourse or justice from nonviolence,
561
00:29:48,914 --> 00:29:50,998
then I'm going to fight back."
562
00:29:59,716 --> 00:30:02,344
Newark,
the summer of ‘67.
563
00:30:04,805 --> 00:30:07,056
Detroit, the summer of ‘67.
564
00:30:07,057 --> 00:30:09,851
Regular army troops moved
into the nation's capital
565
00:30:09,852 --> 00:30:12,436
to protect strategic
locations from the violence
566
00:30:12,437 --> 00:30:13,771
spreading through the city.
567
00:30:13,772 --> 00:30:16,274
From the air,
the scene looked unreal,
568
00:30:16,275 --> 00:30:21,279
a row of fires in the middle
of an otherwise tranquil city.
569
00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:24,657
- What changes, then, as a result
of this wave of rebellions?
570
00:30:24,658 --> 00:30:26,701
- The major shift
that happens in '68
571
00:30:26,702 --> 00:30:29,495
is the Omnibus Crime Control
and Safe Streets Act.
572
00:30:29,496 --> 00:30:34,792
This legislation began what was several
billion dollars, in today's money,
573
00:30:34,793 --> 00:30:39,088
investment into police and
courts and prison systems.
574
00:30:39,089 --> 00:30:42,258
Most of this money going
to the targeted expansion
575
00:30:42,259 --> 00:30:45,928
and militarization of police
in the very same communities
576
00:30:45,929 --> 00:30:50,266
that had rebelled during the
second half of the 1960s.
577
00:30:50,267 --> 00:30:55,271
The Act also begins the transfer
of surplus military technologies
578
00:30:55,272 --> 00:30:58,692
from the army to
local law enforcement.
579
00:31:01,904 --> 00:31:02,904
When Ferguson happened,
580
00:31:02,905 --> 00:31:05,448
and we saw all those armored
tanks on the streets,
581
00:31:05,449 --> 00:31:08,576
people were like, "Where
did this come from?"
582
00:31:08,577 --> 00:31:11,662
People assumed that it was the
product of the war on terror.
583
00:31:11,663 --> 00:31:15,333
No, it's actually rooted
in the Vietnam War
584
00:31:15,334 --> 00:31:19,338
and U.S. interventions in Latin
America and the Caribbean.
585
00:31:20,214 --> 00:31:21,547
- Can we pause on
that for a second
586
00:31:21,548 --> 00:31:24,175
because I think a lotta people
will be shocked to learn
587
00:31:24,176 --> 00:31:28,597
that the military has all of this
leftover weaponry from Vietnam.
588
00:31:29,223 --> 00:31:30,431
And the decision is
589
00:31:30,432 --> 00:31:35,937
that we will deploy that weaponry
against American citizens who are Black.
590
00:31:35,938 --> 00:31:38,940
What does that say about
the fear of Black people,
591
00:31:38,941 --> 00:31:42,026
and particularly
Black rebellion,
592
00:31:42,027 --> 00:31:45,738
that they would transport
weaponry that was used in war
593
00:31:45,739 --> 00:31:49,116
to put down rebellion
amongst American citizens?
594
00:31:49,117 --> 00:31:53,496
- These rebellions are about
access to decent healthcare,
595
00:31:53,497 --> 00:31:56,123
access to educational
opportunities,
596
00:31:56,124 --> 00:31:59,544
um, they're demands about
living in decent housing.
597
00:31:59,545 --> 00:32:01,170
They're about jobs.
598
00:32:01,171 --> 00:32:06,425
They're about full political and
economic inclusion in U.S. society.
599
00:32:06,426 --> 00:32:09,345
And in labeling them as "riots,"
600
00:32:09,346 --> 00:32:12,807
then they become nothing
other than criminal acts.
601
00:32:12,808 --> 00:32:14,350
The strategies were not,
602
00:32:14,351 --> 00:32:17,478
"What are the larger
social and economic forces
603
00:32:17,479 --> 00:32:19,897
that are causing this
collective violence?"
604
00:32:19,898 --> 00:32:23,484
The response is, "We're gonna
treat the Black community
605
00:32:23,485 --> 00:32:25,194
like we're treating
the Viet Cong."
606
00:32:25,195 --> 00:32:27,405
We're gonna use helicopters,
we're gonna use tanks.
607
00:32:27,406 --> 00:32:29,448
We're gonna have tanks rolling
through Black neighborhoods.
608
00:32:29,449 --> 00:32:30,992
- Like, that's crazy.
- Right.
609
00:32:30,993 --> 00:32:32,952
- Except... it's not.
- Except, it's not
610
00:32:32,953 --> 00:32:37,790
because any threat to
the established order
611
00:32:37,791 --> 00:32:39,041
then becomes a threat.
612
00:32:39,042 --> 00:32:41,837
And the tools that are shored
up to respond to that threat
613
00:32:42,838 --> 00:32:47,175
are militaristic, are
violent in and of themselves.
614
00:32:47,176 --> 00:32:50,178
You
need to disperse immediately
615
00:32:50,179 --> 00:32:53,347
or you will be
subject to arrest.
616
00:32:53,348 --> 00:32:54,683
Do it now!
617
00:32:55,726 --> 00:32:57,018
The
militaristic response
618
00:32:57,019 --> 00:33:00,271
to the 2014 uprisings
in Ferguson, Missouri,
619
00:33:00,272 --> 00:33:03,566
galvanized the newly formed
Black Lives Matter movement,
620
00:33:03,567 --> 00:33:08,237
and motivated a whole new generation of
activists intent on Black liberation.
621
00:33:08,238 --> 00:33:11,324
Our
streets! Whose streets?
622
00:33:11,325 --> 00:33:13,117
- Our streets!
- Whose streets?
623
00:33:13,118 --> 00:33:15,158
- Our streets!
- Whose streets?
624
00:33:22,211 --> 00:33:24,629
- Hey, Derrick. So, this is the
only time I'll call you Derrick
625
00:33:24,630 --> 00:33:27,465
because I know you, you go by Dwreck, but.
- All right... I do.
626
00:33:27,466 --> 00:33:31,636
- So, tell me about what was that
experience like protesting in Ferguson?
627
00:33:31,637 --> 00:33:33,179
- So, that was overwhelming.
628
00:33:33,180 --> 00:33:36,516
Um, I'm... I do well in,
in the middle of chaos.
629
00:33:36,517 --> 00:33:39,101
- Mm.
- But it was really gut-wrenching seeing,
630
00:33:39,102 --> 00:33:42,813
you know, such a small suburb
that is majority Black,
631
00:33:42,814 --> 00:33:44,691
but, usually, pretty peaceful.
632
00:33:46,109 --> 00:33:50,154
With military there,
with tanks, with guns,
633
00:33:50,155 --> 00:33:54,492
with a lot of militant effort
to intimidate Black protestors
634
00:33:54,493 --> 00:33:56,661
and the Black Lives
Matter movement.
635
00:33:56,662 --> 00:33:59,288
It was really kind
of, like, surreal.
636
00:33:59,289 --> 00:34:01,123
Get outta here! Go!
637
00:34:02,918 --> 00:34:05,962
- Most of my formative years,
I was raised in St. Louis,
638
00:34:05,963 --> 00:34:08,089
when I went to school in
the suburbs of St. Louis,
639
00:34:08,090 --> 00:34:10,633
not too far from
the Ferguson area.
640
00:34:10,634 --> 00:34:15,263
- What do you remember learning
about police when you were little?
641
00:34:15,264 --> 00:34:18,808
- I've always kind of had an
aversion for authority in general.
642
00:34:18,809 --> 00:34:21,769
I am the rebel of my family...
- Are you a Aries?
643
00:34:21,770 --> 00:34:23,938
I am.
644
00:34:23,939 --> 00:34:26,524
- So am I. That's how I
knew. Anyway, go ahead.
645
00:34:26,525 --> 00:34:28,609
- So, yeah, always just
questioned authority,
646
00:34:28,610 --> 00:34:31,237
and, like, why things operate
in the way that they do.
647
00:34:31,238 --> 00:34:35,074
One of my earliest memories
is a officer stopping my dad
648
00:34:35,075 --> 00:34:36,909
in the suburbs of St. Louis,
649
00:34:36,910 --> 00:34:40,788
pulling him over, and breaking
his ID in front of me,
650
00:34:40,789 --> 00:34:43,499
and then giving him a ticket
for driving without a license.
651
00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:46,460
- How old were you?
- I had to be around nine years old.
652
00:34:46,461 --> 00:34:49,172
Uh, and just seeing
that made me question
653
00:34:49,173 --> 00:34:51,799
why does policing operate
in the way that it does.
654
00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:53,467
I don't feel like
my story's unique.
655
00:34:53,468 --> 00:34:56,804
There's people throughout the U.S.
that are intimidated by the police,
656
00:34:56,805 --> 00:35:00,433
surveilled by the police,
demonized by the police,
657
00:35:00,434 --> 00:35:02,059
but they don't live
to tell their story.
658
00:35:02,060 --> 00:35:05,063
Black lives matter!
659
00:35:06,690 --> 00:35:09,984
In the spring of 2020,
pervasive police violence,
660
00:35:09,985 --> 00:35:12,987
the tragic consequence of
the legacy of white fear,
661
00:35:12,988 --> 00:35:16,782
once again became undeniable
in the eyes of many Americans.
662
00:35:21,997 --> 00:35:25,625
George Floyd didn't choose to
be a martyr for racial justice,
663
00:35:25,626 --> 00:35:28,461
yet the collective witness
of his modern-day lynching
664
00:35:28,462 --> 00:35:33,509
spawned a national, multiracial movement
that I have not witnessed in my lifetime.
665
00:35:33,884 --> 00:35:36,344
Between May and August of 2020,
666
00:35:36,345 --> 00:35:40,515
Americans participated in more than
7,000 Black Lives Matter demonstrations
667
00:35:40,516 --> 00:35:42,016
across the country.
668
00:35:42,017 --> 00:35:44,852
Over 93% remained non-violent.
669
00:35:44,853 --> 00:35:47,481
NYPD! I can't breathe!
670
00:35:51,193 --> 00:35:53,444
But the violent
response of law enforcement
671
00:35:53,445 --> 00:35:55,071
to these peaceful demonstrators
672
00:35:55,072 --> 00:35:57,573
made it abundantly clear
that too many in power
673
00:35:57,574 --> 00:36:00,994
still feel threatened by
protests for Black rights.
674
00:36:01,411 --> 00:36:06,707
So, in response to these massive
Black Lives Matter protests in 2020,
675
00:36:06,708 --> 00:36:10,670
we actually saw very
anti-democratic laws being passed
676
00:36:10,671 --> 00:36:13,589
in certain states that
were criminalizing protest.
677
00:36:13,590 --> 00:36:18,219
Can you talk about some of those laws
and how do laws like that impact,
678
00:36:18,220 --> 00:36:20,972
uh, efforts for Black Americans
to achieve racial justice?
679
00:36:20,973 --> 00:36:23,182
- Immediately after the
protests in the summer of 2020,
680
00:36:23,183 --> 00:36:25,268
Republican-led
state legislatures
681
00:36:25,269 --> 00:36:31,023
enacted all kinds of draconian
"anti-riot bills," as they're called,
682
00:36:31,024 --> 00:36:36,654
which are, essentially, about limiting
people's first amendment right to protest.
683
00:36:36,655 --> 00:36:40,950
- Lawmakers are introducing stiff
new penalties for public disorder.
684
00:36:40,951 --> 00:36:46,581
- All kinds of new criminal penalties
introduced making protest a criminal act.
685
00:36:46,582 --> 00:36:48,916
- The law now offers
protections to police officers
686
00:36:48,917 --> 00:36:51,502
while also increasing
penalties for rioters.
687
00:36:51,503 --> 00:36:53,546
- And also, at the same time,
688
00:36:53,547 --> 00:36:57,884
decriminalizing people
who attack protestors.
689
00:36:57,885 --> 00:37:00,636
- Measures granting immunity
to drivers who hit protesters
690
00:37:00,637 --> 00:37:04,265
are gaining steam in
Iowa and in Oklahoma.
691
00:37:05,559 --> 00:37:07,393
The
legislation in Oklahoma
692
00:37:07,394 --> 00:37:11,522
decriminalized people who would
ram their cars into protestors.
693
00:37:11,523 --> 00:37:14,984
And the fact that so many
of these anti-riot bills
694
00:37:14,985 --> 00:37:17,862
are decriminalizing
violence against protests
695
00:37:17,863 --> 00:37:20,406
while criminalizing the
protests themselves,
696
00:37:20,407 --> 00:37:22,408
I think, says it all.
697
00:37:22,409 --> 00:37:23,451
- What does it say?
698
00:37:23,452 --> 00:37:25,494
- It is a stark reflection
699
00:37:25,495 --> 00:37:29,415
of the way that white supremacy
structures American society,
700
00:37:29,416 --> 00:37:33,586
and who gets to be a citizen, who
gets to protest, and who doesn't.
701
00:37:33,587 --> 00:37:35,881
Who gets to use violence
and who doesn't?
702
00:37:36,965 --> 00:37:40,468
The state violence deployed
against the Black Lives Matter protesters
703
00:37:40,469 --> 00:37:42,512
had taken a toll
on Derrick Ingram,
704
00:37:42,513 --> 00:37:45,598
and despite his visceral reaction
to the George Floyd tape,
705
00:37:45,599 --> 00:37:48,601
at first, he wasn't
moved to action.
706
00:37:48,602 --> 00:37:50,144
- I didn't think organizing
would change much,
707
00:37:50,145 --> 00:37:51,646
and I had become really cynical.
708
00:37:51,647 --> 00:37:55,358
But then I had a friend I had
protested with in St. Louis,
709
00:37:55,359 --> 00:37:58,277
literally, knock on my door, and
said, we needed to go outside,
710
00:37:58,278 --> 00:37:59,570
and, uh, that
changed everything.
711
00:37:59,571 --> 00:38:02,783
I grabbed my combat boots,
and, um, I was ready to go.
712
00:38:03,617 --> 00:38:05,952
Derrick co-founded
the activist collective
713
00:38:05,953 --> 00:38:07,328
Warriors in the Garden,
714
00:38:07,329 --> 00:38:10,958
and their first protest
was roughly 10,000 strong.
715
00:38:11,667 --> 00:38:13,292
So, talk to me,
Dwreck, about what was
716
00:38:13,293 --> 00:38:16,212
your particular role in
Warriors in the Garden?
717
00:38:16,213 --> 00:38:17,797
- I was Head of Communications.
718
00:38:17,798 --> 00:38:20,424
So, one of the things I
did was doing teach-ins,
719
00:38:20,425 --> 00:38:22,760
and teaching community
on how to be safe,
720
00:38:22,761 --> 00:38:25,304
teaching things about
exactly what to do
721
00:38:25,305 --> 00:38:28,432
if they thought there was social
media monitoring going on,
722
00:38:28,433 --> 00:38:31,143
and really just teaching about
surveillance and over-policing,
723
00:38:31,144 --> 00:38:34,313
and, and the worst things
that can happen to protestors.
724
00:38:34,314 --> 00:38:37,233
- When did you begin to suspect
that you were being watched?
725
00:38:37,234 --> 00:38:39,402
- You know, I always
kinda had an inkling,
726
00:38:39,403 --> 00:38:41,904
but I thought it was
unjustifiable paranoia
727
00:38:41,905 --> 00:38:44,115
because we had committed
ourselves to nonviolence.
728
00:38:44,116 --> 00:38:47,368
I really was hoping that we
would fly under the radar.
729
00:38:47,369 --> 00:38:49,453
- And what happened?
- After every protest,
730
00:38:49,454 --> 00:38:53,124
we would go to ba... a bar,
um, in the Lower East Side,
731
00:38:53,125 --> 00:38:55,751
had amazing margaritas.
- Blow off some steam.
732
00:38:55,752 --> 00:38:57,962
- Blow off some
steam and decompress.
733
00:38:57,963 --> 00:39:02,425
That night, I went a little too hard,
had at least three or four margaritas,
734
00:39:02,426 --> 00:39:05,678
took a Uber home, attempted
to cook a steak, I think.
735
00:39:05,679 --> 00:39:07,513
And it
just didn't work out,
736
00:39:07,514 --> 00:39:09,932
so I, I went, I went to sleep,
737
00:39:09,933 --> 00:39:13,227
and, uh, I woke up, and there
was a knock at the door.
738
00:39:13,228 --> 00:39:17,690
I saw a Caucasian man that
had on an all-blue outfit.
739
00:39:21,236 --> 00:39:24,572
- When you first hear a knock on
the door, you don't see anything.
740
00:39:24,573 --> 00:39:26,490
You get up, come to the door.
- Get up, yeah. I get up...
741
00:39:26,491 --> 00:39:29,076
- Look through the peephole.
- Look through the peephole.
742
00:39:29,077 --> 00:39:31,705
Ans... um, answer,
743
00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:35,791
and I initially did answer, and
I cracked, cracked the door.
744
00:39:35,792 --> 00:39:37,376
We had...
- Did you have a chain on or no?
745
00:39:37,377 --> 00:39:38,377
- Not at first.
746
00:39:38,378 --> 00:39:39,296
- Oh.
- Not at first.
747
00:39:39,297 --> 00:39:42,215
I, I, I thought it was a delivery
person or somethin' like that.
748
00:39:42,216 --> 00:39:44,091
And then, as soon as he said
he had a warrant for my arrest,
749
00:39:44,092 --> 00:39:46,469
I immediately slammed the door,
750
00:39:46,470 --> 00:39:47,929
deadbolted it,
751
00:39:47,930 --> 00:39:49,597
and that's when I told
him to slide the warrant,
752
00:39:49,598 --> 00:39:51,934
and it, and it just never came.
753
00:39:56,396 --> 00:39:58,606
Concerned that this
mysterious man at his door
754
00:39:58,607 --> 00:40:00,149
might be setting a trap,
755
00:40:00,150 --> 00:40:02,068
Derrick refused to
leave his apartment,
756
00:40:02,069 --> 00:40:04,195
and immediately told
his fellow activists
757
00:40:04,196 --> 00:40:07,240
to communicate with him
over an encrypted chat.
758
00:40:07,241 --> 00:40:11,327
So... you've slammed the
door on the police officer.
759
00:40:11,328 --> 00:40:13,454
No warrants come under
the door. What happened?
760
00:40:13,455 --> 00:40:15,832
- So, it turned into
around a six-hour standoff.
761
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:20,127
In an effort to protect him,
Derrick's fellow activists told him
762
00:40:20,128 --> 00:40:23,590
to document what was
happening on Instagram Live.
763
00:40:23,924 --> 00:40:27,468
Throughout the standoff, Derrick
was simultaneously live streaming,
764
00:40:27,469 --> 00:40:29,136
talking with lawyers
on the phone,
765
00:40:29,137 --> 00:40:31,640
and communicating with the
police through the door.
766
00:40:32,432 --> 00:40:34,600
A lot
started happening after that
767
00:40:34,601 --> 00:40:36,060
in terms of police involvement.
768
00:40:36,061 --> 00:40:37,937
They started
knocking at my door,
769
00:40:37,938 --> 00:40:41,858
calling me abrasive, saying
I was being aggressive.
770
00:40:41,859 --> 00:40:43,442
You're the one
being hostile right now.
771
00:40:43,443 --> 00:40:46,904
- I'm not being hostile.
I'm calm. I'm calm.
772
00:40:46,905 --> 00:40:48,532
I'm very calm, y'all.
773
00:40:49,283 --> 00:40:52,286
I am not being hostile.
He called me hostile.
774
00:40:53,453 --> 00:40:56,247
I am calm... I am chill. LAWYER
Hey, so sorry,
775
00:40:56,248 --> 00:40:57,790
I think I lost you.
776
00:40:57,791 --> 00:41:00,626
Um, hey, Derrick... PERSON : There's no warrant.
777
00:41:00,627 --> 00:41:02,254
Hello,
can you hear me?
778
00:41:03,130 --> 00:41:05,631
- They blocked my peep...
They blocked my peephole.
779
00:41:05,632 --> 00:41:06,799
We're
here to help you.
780
00:41:06,800 --> 00:41:08,342
Okay.
781
00:41:08,343 --> 00:41:10,803
I'm gonna try to add a lawyer...
782
00:41:16,685 --> 00:41:19,187
Not only were there
police outside Derrick's door,
783
00:41:19,188 --> 00:41:21,731
there were sharpshooters
positioned across the street,
784
00:41:21,732 --> 00:41:23,734
and helicopters overhead.
785
00:41:25,194 --> 00:41:30,740
So, you have to be thinking, at
some point, like, "I might die."
786
00:41:30,741 --> 00:41:33,534
- I thought that was a
definite possibility.
787
00:41:33,535 --> 00:41:38,039
- Did they finally tell
you why, why they're there?
788
00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:40,666
- This all was allegedly happening
because I was being accused of
789
00:41:40,667 --> 00:41:43,753
yelling at an officer
at a, at a protest.
790
00:41:43,754 --> 00:41:47,089
And at that protest, we
were surrounded by officers
791
00:41:47,090 --> 00:41:49,800
on both sides as well as
in front and behind us.
792
00:41:49,801 --> 00:41:52,386
And I took it upon myself
to confront the officers
793
00:41:52,387 --> 00:41:55,806
and tell them that they needed
to, to stop intimidating us,
794
00:41:55,807 --> 00:41:57,892
to let us through, and
let us continue our march.
795
00:41:57,893 --> 00:42:00,186
- So, what was the crime?
- What was the crime?
796
00:42:00,187 --> 00:42:03,064
Allegedly, verbally
assaulting an officer.
797
00:42:03,065 --> 00:42:04,607
What's verbally
assaulting an officer?
798
00:42:04,608 --> 00:42:07,318
Like, just saying unpleasant things to
an officer? DERRICK: So... So, no, so...
799
00:42:07,319 --> 00:42:10,112
Yelling too loud?
Yeah, yelling too loud via megaphone.
800
00:42:10,113 --> 00:42:11,531
That was the accusation.
801
00:42:11,532 --> 00:42:13,950
- Wow. And all of these officers...
- So...
802
00:42:13,951 --> 00:42:18,287
- How many officers would you say,
at the height that day, were here?
803
00:42:18,288 --> 00:42:20,873
- Thirty-plus officers,
according to my lawyers,
804
00:42:20,874 --> 00:42:21,999
were at the scene.
805
00:42:29,633 --> 00:42:31,133
- Why you gonna sit there
and try to arrest somebody
806
00:42:31,134 --> 00:42:32,218
that's organized a protest?
807
00:42:32,219 --> 00:42:34,011
That's doin' somethin'
for positive things.
808
00:42:34,012 --> 00:42:35,221
- Yeah!
- You understand? That's...
809
00:42:35,222 --> 00:42:36,931
That right there is bullshit.
810
00:42:36,932 --> 00:42:39,350
- That is bullshit
right there, man.
811
00:42:39,351 --> 00:42:41,894
Hearing my community
outside of my apartment
812
00:42:41,895 --> 00:42:43,521
protesting, organizing...
813
00:42:43,522 --> 00:42:46,149
Where's the warrant?
814
00:42:49,319 --> 00:42:51,362
screaming for hours,
815
00:42:51,363 --> 00:42:53,531
"Where's the warrant?
Where's the warrant?
816
00:42:53,532 --> 00:42:55,032
Let him out. Where's
the warrant?"
817
00:42:55,033 --> 00:42:57,452
So, I found solace in that.
818
00:42:58,954 --> 00:43:02,582
Inside the apartment,
the standoff continued.
819
00:43:08,005 --> 00:43:09,922
I'm coming out soon.
820
00:43:09,923 --> 00:43:13,218
I'm coordinating with my
lawyers on how to proceed.
821
00:43:16,305 --> 00:43:19,348
- So, I'm just thinking about
your own experiences growing up,
822
00:43:19,349 --> 00:43:24,020
everything that we've seen about
police interactions with Black people,
823
00:43:24,021 --> 00:43:27,773
and I'm just imagining, like, your
heart has to be thudding in your chest.
824
00:43:27,774 --> 00:43:29,692
What are you feeling
at that moment?
825
00:43:29,693 --> 00:43:35,072
- My mind was racing, but physically,
I'm really tryna think, "Okay, calm down.
826
00:43:35,073 --> 00:43:37,116
What do I need to
do to address this?"
827
00:43:37,117 --> 00:43:39,619
My biggest fear is that
if I let them in my unit,
828
00:43:39,620 --> 00:43:40,870
they're gonna try to harm me,
829
00:43:40,871 --> 00:43:43,122
and if I leave, I think they're
gonna plant something here.
830
00:43:43,123 --> 00:43:46,876
- So, you're publicly
preparing for violence...
831
00:43:46,877 --> 00:43:47,960
- Definitely.
- And a cover-up?
832
00:43:47,961 --> 00:43:48,921
- Definitely.
- Mm-hmm.
833
00:43:48,922 --> 00:43:50,963
- I think that's law
enforcement's MO,
834
00:43:50,964 --> 00:43:55,218
especially when it comes to Black
people that they see as radical.
835
00:43:58,972 --> 00:44:00,848
Fear of
Black liberation
836
00:44:00,849 --> 00:44:03,392
has long motivated state
and federal authorities
837
00:44:03,393 --> 00:44:06,062
to surveil and
sabotage Black leaders,
838
00:44:06,063 --> 00:44:08,940
civil rights activists,
and Black-led organizations
839
00:44:08,941 --> 00:44:12,235
attempting to disrupt the
existing social order.
840
00:44:12,236 --> 00:44:15,029
Can you talk about
government surveillance,
841
00:44:15,030 --> 00:44:19,408
and, uh, the targeting of
activists going from the 1960s
842
00:44:19,409 --> 00:44:22,870
and the parallels that we've seen much
more recently with Black Lives Matter?
843
00:44:22,871 --> 00:44:27,708
- If you were seen as a civil
rights leader... or organization,
844
00:44:27,709 --> 00:44:31,045
you were infiltrated
by Black informants,
845
00:44:31,046 --> 00:44:35,384
and you were followed,
sometimes harassed, by the FBI
846
00:44:35,801 --> 00:44:39,011
with the idea that the
government needs to keep tabs
847
00:44:39,012 --> 00:44:43,349
on what this internal enemy is doing
and planning in order to squash it.
848
00:44:43,350 --> 00:44:48,229
- A Black activist says he is the first
person to be targeted and prosecuted
849
00:44:48,230 --> 00:44:50,523
under a secretive U.S.
surveillance effort
850
00:44:50,524 --> 00:44:53,693
to track so-called "Black
Identity Extremists."
851
00:44:53,694 --> 00:44:55,695
The belief that
the federal government's
852
00:44:55,696 --> 00:44:58,322
targeting of Black
leaders died in the '70s
853
00:44:58,323 --> 00:45:01,994
with J. Edgar Hoover's
counterintelligence program is false.
854
00:45:02,411 --> 00:45:04,245
It has never stopped.
855
00:45:04,246 --> 00:45:07,999
- We continue to see
Black organizations
856
00:45:08,000 --> 00:45:12,044
getting targeted by
state and federal
857
00:45:12,045 --> 00:45:14,673
law enforcement
agencies to this day.
858
00:45:15,090 --> 00:45:16,716
The Department
of Homeland Security
859
00:45:16,717 --> 00:45:20,178
began surveilling Black Lives
Matter activists in 2014
860
00:45:20,179 --> 00:45:22,264
after the uprisings in Ferguson.
861
00:45:24,141 --> 00:45:27,018
And just a few
years later, in 2017,
862
00:45:27,019 --> 00:45:29,187
leaked documents
revealed that the FBI
863
00:45:29,188 --> 00:45:33,649
had created a new threat classification
called "Black Identity Extremists,"
864
00:45:33,650 --> 00:45:38,280
Black activists that the FBI considered
likely to attack law enforcement.
865
00:45:39,364 --> 00:45:42,074
Black Identity
Extremists, that doesn't exist.
866
00:45:42,075 --> 00:45:44,452
BLM does not represent
a terrorist threat...
867
00:45:44,453 --> 00:45:46,996
- Right.
- To U.S. society, yet by labeling it
868
00:45:46,997 --> 00:45:49,540
as an extremist group, as
something to be feared,
869
00:45:49,541 --> 00:45:53,878
then the FBI can watch
what people are doing
870
00:45:53,879 --> 00:45:57,006
as they are struggling and
organizing for justice.
871
00:45:57,007 --> 00:45:59,675
- These days, if we watch
the movie on Fred Hampton,
872
00:45:59,676 --> 00:46:02,553
or a documentary
on the King tapes,
873
00:46:02,554 --> 00:46:05,640
we say, "Man, I can't believe
our government did that,"
874
00:46:05,641 --> 00:46:08,726
which means we're in denial about what
our government is doing right now.
875
00:46:08,727 --> 00:46:11,562
- Mm-hmm.
- That the things that we now clearly know,
876
00:46:11,563 --> 00:46:16,818
um, were wrong back then,
we are accepting right now.
877
00:46:18,362 --> 00:46:20,780
As the standoff moved
into its sixth hour,
878
00:46:20,781 --> 00:46:23,617
Derrick's determination
began to waver.
879
00:46:24,409 --> 00:46:26,118
I'm thinkin' that
it's time to surrender,
880
00:46:26,119 --> 00:46:29,163
and literally my
hand's at the door,
881
00:46:29,164 --> 00:46:31,290
and I'm getting messages,
"Don't give up, Dwreck.
882
00:46:31,291 --> 00:46:32,458
They're leaving,
they're leaving."
883
00:46:32,459 --> 00:46:33,918
And I'm thinkin',
884
00:46:33,919 --> 00:46:36,045
y'all have been sayin' that
for the last two hours.
885
00:46:36,046 --> 00:46:37,129
My friends are full of shit.
886
00:46:37,130 --> 00:46:39,340
They just don't want me
to leave this apartment.
887
00:46:39,341 --> 00:46:41,884
And I was so close to leaving.
888
00:46:41,885 --> 00:46:45,763
Literally, this is how close
I was to openin' the door.
889
00:46:45,764 --> 00:46:50,142
And all of a sudden, I hear cheerin',
and my name bein' screamed outside,
890
00:46:50,143 --> 00:46:52,770
and I was like, "Is
this... What's goin' on?"
891
00:46:52,771 --> 00:46:54,188
And then, you know
on Instagram Live
892
00:46:54,189 --> 00:46:55,731
when the hearts start comin' up?
- Yes.
893
00:46:55,732 --> 00:46:59,277
- There's hundreds of hearts
comin' up, and I'm like,
894
00:46:59,278 --> 00:47:01,118
"What the hell is goin'..."
- "What happened?"
895
00:47:04,032 --> 00:47:10,038
♪
Na-na-na-na, hey-hey-hey, goodbye ♪
896
00:47:13,250 --> 00:47:15,877
- Everybody's like, "They're
gone, they're gone, they're gone."
897
00:47:15,878 --> 00:47:17,837
I still didn't believe it.
- Were you like, "This a trap."
898
00:47:17,838 --> 00:47:20,131
This is... I was
like... I still didn't believe it.
899
00:47:20,132 --> 00:47:21,340
And then, the next thing I know,
900
00:47:21,341 --> 00:47:24,468
I hear one of my friends
outside of the door.
901
00:47:24,469 --> 00:47:27,722
He's like, "It's John, open up."
And I said, "What's our password?"
902
00:47:27,723 --> 00:47:30,266
He gave me the password,
I cracked the door,
903
00:47:30,267 --> 00:47:32,727
he pushes in, gives me a hug.
- Oh, man.
904
00:47:32,728 --> 00:47:36,230
All of the Warriors start
comin' up and everybody's comforting me.
905
00:47:36,231 --> 00:47:41,360
Never be defeated!
The people united will never be defeated!
906
00:47:41,361 --> 00:47:42,904
- What democracy looks like!
907
00:47:42,905 --> 00:47:45,156
This
is what democracy looks like!
908
00:47:45,157 --> 00:47:47,325
Despite what the
police initially stated,
909
00:47:47,326 --> 00:47:49,619
they never had a warrant
for Derrick's arrest,
910
00:47:49,620 --> 00:47:52,831
and the charges against him
were ultimately dropped.
911
00:47:53,874 --> 00:47:56,709
All that money, all that
resources, all those man hours
912
00:47:56,710 --> 00:47:59,045
when there's actual crime
occurring... DERRICK: Exactly.
913
00:47:59,046 --> 00:48:00,796
in the biggest
city in the country,
914
00:48:00,797 --> 00:48:03,299
it doesn't make sense,
and then to just leave?
915
00:48:03,300 --> 00:48:08,596
- Just left, and they left
when... it became really popular.
916
00:48:08,597 --> 00:48:11,265
All these people were
sharing my Instagram Live,
917
00:48:11,266 --> 00:48:12,767
and it was getting
media coverage,
918
00:48:12,768 --> 00:48:16,854
and I think if I didn't have
the, the wherewithal to film,
919
00:48:16,855 --> 00:48:18,898
and I didn't get
advised to do so,
920
00:48:18,899 --> 00:48:20,024
and I didn't have community
921
00:48:20,025 --> 00:48:21,901
outside filming...
- Right.
922
00:48:21,902 --> 00:48:25,531
- oh, there would've been something
way more nefarious that occurred.
923
00:48:31,286 --> 00:48:33,497
I miss
him bein' around,
924
00:48:34,414 --> 00:48:38,043
bein' able to help
me with the kids.
925
00:48:38,919 --> 00:48:41,087
I miss everything.
926
00:48:41,088 --> 00:48:46,300
I miss jokin' around, I
miss somebody to love me,
927
00:48:46,301 --> 00:48:48,929
tell me everything is
gonna be all right.
928
00:49:02,276 --> 00:49:05,486
I can say that the
loss of Jemel to this family
929
00:49:05,487 --> 00:49:09,073
is devastating in a way that
will never be made up for.
930
00:49:09,074 --> 00:49:12,034
He wasn't only a financial provider,
he was an emotional provider.
931
00:49:12,035 --> 00:49:16,080
Everyone who talks about Jemel talks
about how secure he made them feel.
932
00:49:16,081 --> 00:49:18,583
He was happy that he
was becoming a father,
933
00:49:18,584 --> 00:49:20,835
and that he would be
able to give his children
934
00:49:20,836 --> 00:49:24,256
things in life that he, he didn't
have a chance to experience.
935
00:49:25,007 --> 00:49:28,635
It breaks my heart to
see that kind of loss.
936
00:49:29,052 --> 00:49:34,891
- What does Tristan and even Justice
understand about what happened to Jemel?
937
00:49:34,892 --> 00:49:36,642
Because I... I'm trying to think
938
00:49:36,643 --> 00:49:39,645
how do you explain this
to very young children
939
00:49:39,646 --> 00:49:41,898
who are asking for their father?
940
00:49:41,899 --> 00:49:43,650
- Yeah. They keep...
They ask me about it.
941
00:49:44,568 --> 00:49:46,986
It's like, "What happened
to our dad?" NIKOLE: Mm-hmm.
942
00:49:46,987 --> 00:49:49,739
"Who killed him?" I'm like,
"I'm sorry to tell this to y'all,
943
00:49:49,740 --> 00:49:53,034
but even though he was a
hero, the police shot him."
944
00:50:02,419 --> 00:50:05,171
You gettin a
fade? What's up, man?
945
00:50:05,172 --> 00:50:07,298
- I was waiting on you.
- You was waitin' on me?
946
00:50:07,299 --> 00:50:08,841
You knew I was comin'?
947
00:50:08,842 --> 00:50:10,510
Who told you?
- You.
948
00:50:10,511 --> 00:50:12,929
- I told you I was comin'?
- Yeah.
949
00:50:14,848 --> 00:50:16,850
- Did ya see my haircut?
950
00:50:17,559 --> 00:50:20,186
- What is that?
- What happened to my hair?
951
00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:24,857
- How's it goin'?
- Good.
952
00:50:24,858 --> 00:50:26,109
- Good to see ya.
953
00:50:27,027 --> 00:50:30,738
Watchin' a 4-year-old try to
process death is very difficult.
954
00:50:30,739 --> 00:50:33,074
Uh, he, he often
talks about his dad.
955
00:50:33,075 --> 00:50:35,660
He talks about having
conversations with him,
956
00:50:35,661 --> 00:50:38,664
and I'm not sure if those
are dreams or memories.
957
00:50:39,581 --> 00:50:43,084
Tristan has to confront
the reality of death
958
00:50:43,085 --> 00:50:48,924
in a way that is almost impossible for
a child his age to fully comprehend.
959
00:50:49,466 --> 00:50:54,470
And Justice Roberson never had
a chance to meet her father.
960
00:50:54,471 --> 00:50:57,348
She was born months
after his murder
961
00:50:57,349 --> 00:51:01,562
into a world that was still
fighting for justice for her dad.
962
00:51:11,655 --> 00:51:14,866
Following the shooting,
Jemel's mother, Beatrice Roberson,
963
00:51:14,867 --> 00:51:16,409
filed a wrongful
death suit against
964
00:51:16,410 --> 00:51:19,161
Officer Covey and the
village of Midlothian.
965
00:51:19,162 --> 00:51:22,039
And after an almost two-year
criminal investigation,
966
00:51:22,040 --> 00:51:26,962
the Cook County State's Attorney's Office
announced a decision on Jemel's case.
967
00:51:27,379 --> 00:51:30,464
- No criminal charges for
the Midlothian police officer
968
00:51:30,465 --> 00:51:34,177
who killed a Black security guard in
the South Suburbs nearly two years ago.
969
00:51:34,178 --> 00:51:36,929
This morning, Cook County
State's Attorney Kim Fox says
970
00:51:36,930 --> 00:51:39,557
her office found there
was not enough evidence
971
00:51:39,558 --> 00:51:43,227
to charge Covey for that fatal
2018 shooting of Roberson.
972
00:51:43,228 --> 00:51:47,815
- My family and I will never
be able to put this behind us.
973
00:51:47,816 --> 00:51:51,945
State's Attorney Kim Fox and her
office has let my family down.
974
00:51:52,613 --> 00:51:55,323
Jemel's family, ultimately,
reached a civil settlement
975
00:51:55,324 --> 00:51:57,366
with the village of Midlothian.
976
00:51:57,367 --> 00:52:00,328
- More than three years after
security guard Jemel Roberson
977
00:52:00,329 --> 00:52:02,997
was shot by a South
Suburban police officer,
978
00:52:02,998 --> 00:52:05,541
the family has settled
with Midlothian Police
979
00:52:05,542 --> 00:52:08,252
for more than seven
million dollars.
980
00:52:08,253 --> 00:52:11,214
- The city, Midlothian,
has admitted no wrongdoing,
981
00:52:11,215 --> 00:52:13,382
there was no criminal
accountability,
982
00:52:13,383 --> 00:52:16,762
uh, or even a, uh, a
presentation to the grand jury.
983
00:52:17,930 --> 00:52:20,973
It's very difficult to hold an
officer accountable, civilly,
984
00:52:20,974 --> 00:52:23,184
at all in these circumstances.
985
00:52:23,185 --> 00:52:28,231
The only remedy available in
civil court is monetary rewards.
986
00:52:28,232 --> 00:52:34,237
A $7.5 million, uh, recovery is
far above the national average.
987
00:52:34,238 --> 00:52:37,490
Those funds are
placed into a trust
988
00:52:37,491 --> 00:52:43,497
that will be available to Jemel's
only daughter when she turns 18.
989
00:52:44,456 --> 00:52:50,044
My goal as a civil rights attorney is
to make police brutality unsustainable.
990
00:52:50,045 --> 00:52:53,089
We hope that cities like
Midlothian are forced to pay
991
00:52:53,090 --> 00:52:55,174
these multimillion-dollar
settlements,
992
00:52:55,175 --> 00:52:58,678
so that they're forced to reevaluate
the kind of officers that they have,
993
00:52:58,679 --> 00:53:00,763
the kind of training
that they provide,
994
00:53:00,764 --> 00:53:03,683
and when force is allowed.
995
00:53:11,024 --> 00:53:13,442
As long as our
country allows law enforcement
996
00:53:13,443 --> 00:53:17,238
to escape criminal accountability
when they kill Black citizens,
997
00:53:17,239 --> 00:53:21,201
civil lawsuits will be the only
recourse families like Jemel's have.
998
00:53:21,618 --> 00:53:25,121
But settlements can never
repair such a tragic loss,
999
00:53:25,122 --> 00:53:28,583
and seem to send the message that
officers who take Black lives
1000
00:53:28,584 --> 00:53:30,919
can do so without consequence.
1001
00:53:31,378 --> 00:53:34,797
And for those like Derrick Ingram
who live to tell their stories,
1002
00:53:34,798 --> 00:53:39,553
this tragic understanding remains
the reason he continues to fight.
1003
00:53:42,514 --> 00:53:47,101
Has there been any recourse for
you, whatsoever, for what NYPD did?
1004
00:53:47,102 --> 00:53:49,562
- The police, they have not
been held accountable at all.
1005
00:53:49,563 --> 00:53:52,106
I have a civil rights
lawsuit against the NYPD
1006
00:53:52,107 --> 00:53:55,401
for violating my human rights,
as well as surveilling me.
1007
00:53:55,402 --> 00:53:57,361
What they did to me
1008
00:53:57,362 --> 00:54:01,240
is gonna stick with me for a long
time, and I'm still processing,
1009
00:54:01,241 --> 00:54:04,035
but it's really invigorated me
and a lot of people around me
1010
00:54:04,036 --> 00:54:06,495
to further strengthen
the movement,
1011
00:54:06,496 --> 00:54:09,875
um, and to really make me hyper-focus
on, on makin' a difference.
1012
00:54:11,126 --> 00:54:13,628
The assumptions
made about Derrick and Jemel
1013
00:54:13,629 --> 00:54:18,550
echo the 400-year-old stereotypes
about who we are as Black Americans.
1014
00:54:18,926 --> 00:54:23,555
Fear of our fathers, our
brothers, our friends.
1015
00:54:23,972 --> 00:54:28,392
Fear of who our children
will one day grow up to be.
1016
00:54:28,393 --> 00:54:30,102
He already
question police,
1017
00:54:30,103 --> 00:54:33,397
so I'm definitely terrified
for him when he get older.
1018
00:54:33,398 --> 00:54:34,857
So, I think when
he get older, like,
1019
00:54:34,858 --> 00:54:37,109
"Oh, so you gonna kill me
like you killed my dad?"
1020
00:54:37,110 --> 00:54:38,528
I don't want him
to feel like that.
1021
00:54:38,529 --> 00:54:40,279
I don't want him to be
scared of the police,
1022
00:54:40,280 --> 00:54:42,115
even though I know he is.
1023
00:55:07,140 --> 00:55:09,225
Four hundred
years of white fear
1024
00:55:09,226 --> 00:55:11,352
that begets Black fear.
1025
00:55:11,353 --> 00:55:16,984
Four hundred years of racism constructed
to take opportunity and to steal wealth.
1026
00:55:18,861 --> 00:55:22,572
What must this nation
do to make things right?
1027
00:55:22,573 --> 00:55:25,616
- They started in
slavery, you had nothin'.
1028
00:55:25,617 --> 00:55:27,368
Z... You were a zero.
1029
00:55:27,369 --> 00:55:28,703
So, now you have these things,
1030
00:55:28,704 --> 00:55:31,205
so you begin to accumulate
and, uh, build wealth
1031
00:55:31,206 --> 00:55:32,915
for your children and
your grandchildren.
1032
00:55:32,916 --> 00:55:36,003
And all of a sudden, in-in
two weeks, it's gone.
1033
00:55:36,378 --> 00:55:40,591
- What is this community
owed for what happened?
1034
00:55:41,884 --> 00:55:46,221
- There's no, uh, ah, that's... There's
not a price you can put on that.
93612
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.